Betterland Ghana Limited Denies Mining in Draw River Forest Reserve
Betterland Ghana Limited has dismissed reports that it has been mining illegally in the Draw River Forest Reserve. The company issued a statement denying the allegations and calling out GTV and Umaru Sanda Salifu for broadcasting false information.
Rebutting the Claims
Betterland Ghana Limited's statement claimed that the report aired on GTV was false, misleading, defamatory, and calculated to injure the reputation of the firm. The company stated that the audiovisual material aired by GTV was not from the Draw River Forest Reserve, but rather from Atiwa Forest, which was deliberately misrepresented as destruction in Gwira Banso.
"This reckless misrepresentation constitutes a gross violation of journalistic ethics, a breach of professional responsibility, and a malicious attempt to mislead the public," the company said. GTV and Umaru Sanda Salifu were accused of broadcasting unrelated footage as evidence of alleged destruction in Draw River Forest, which undermines the credibility of state broadcasting and unfairly maligns Betterland Ghana Limited.
Regulatory Oversight and Compliance
Betterland Ghana Limited emphasized that its operations are supervised daily by officials of the Forestry Commission, ensuring strict adherence to environmental and forestry laws. The company stated that it has consistently demonstrated transparency, compliance, and respect for regulatory oversight, and remains committed to lawful and responsible operations.
The company added that it has not been operating near any river bodies or cocoa farms, contrary to the false claims made in the broadcast. The access route used by the company was constructed by timber firms long before Betterland commenced exploration, and every activity undertaken is within the strict confines of Ghana's environmental, forestry, and mining regulations.
Commitment to Integrity
Betterland Ghana Limited called on GTV and Umaru Sanda Salifu to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, and responsibility in their reporting. The company demanded that GTV and Umaru Sanda Salifu issue a full, unqualified public retraction and apology for the false broadcast.
The firm reiterated that it is not engaged in illegal mining, noting that its activities are lawful exploration works, conducted under strict regulatory oversight. The use of unrelated audiovisual material to depict the company's operations is misleading, defamatory, and unacceptable, according to Betterland Ghana Limited.
What's Next
The company's statement has sparked a heated debate on the importance of responsible journalism and the need for accurate reporting. As the situation unfolds, Accra Posts will continue to provide updates on this developing story. Betterland Ghana Limited's commitment to integrity and regulatory compliance has been made clear, but the question remains: will GTV and Umaru Sanda Salifu take responsibility for their actions and issue a public retraction and apology?
Source: Joy Online
